Brighouse Town kick-off their busy Christmas period at home to Clitheroe

FOLLOWING THEIR 1-0 win at Widnes last Saturday, Brighouse Town will hit the ground running as their second half of the season kicks in on Saturday at home to Clitheroe (3pm).

Town drew 0-0 at Clitheroe in August, with Phil Brown’s team in fifth place, five places and four points above Vill Powell’s side.

Clitheroe come on the back of some good performances, winning 4-0 over Droylsden and 6-1 over Ossett United, plus a 1-1 draw with second-placed Marine.

Powell is pleased with his strikeforce, so much so he has allowed experienced striker Carl Stewart to go on a dual registration to Selby Town two levels below Brighouse, and allow Halifax-based Tom Robinson to have extended paternity leave following the addition of a second son last month.

There was even no place in the 16 that made the trip to Merseyside last Saturday for former full time Guiseley midfielder Jack Lazenby, his place taken on the bench by newcomer Mitch Clogg, 18, from Chesterfield.

Also left out was rightsided player Raeece Ellington, formerly of Bradford City and Manchester United academy.

Despite having several players on dual-registration, Powell feels he has sufficient cover despite long term injuries to Joe Wilkinson, Mohammed Ibrahim, Rhys Jenkinson, Connor Griffin and Mikey Starkey.

He gave the players Tuesday night off training and they will be at Canalside, Huddersfield Town’s base, this evening for training on their 4G pitch, as they prepare for the three games over the festive period Tadcaster Albion away on Boxing Day (3pm) and at home to Ossett United on New Year’s Day (3pm), being the other two.

Huddersfield Town manager Danny Cowley has heaped praise on Brighouse Town’s management and coaching team in print and local and national radio for the way they developed his latest teenage debutant, London-born Rarmani Edmunds-Green, who spent last season on loan with Town.

He was on the bench for the televised derby with Leeds United. He made his league debut at Charlton Athletic last Tuesday, and also played against Wigan at the weekend.

BRIGHOUSE TOWN Women reached the quarter-finals of the County Cup after an 11-0 win against Wetherby.

A very mixed squad, including seven teenagers, took to the pitch with 16 year old Lucie Fieldhouse making her debut.

Town finished the half 9-0 up with captain and hat-trick hero Kayleigh Bamforth pulling the strings.

Hannah Freibach added to her impressive tally with a couple of goals, taking her total to 12 in nine since arriving from Barnsley.

Emma Pilling scored a long range effort, and Abi Housecroft got on the end of a cross from Arianne Parnham, who also netted twice, with Fieldhouse and Holly Mattison completing the scoring.

The game marked the club’s and manager Rob Mitchell’s 200th game, which includes 144 wins and only 30 defeats in seven years.